My wife and I were incessantly occupied with hayforks, by means of
which we shook up and moved the sheaves over which the threshers rode,
so as to throw them in the track.
From time to time the animals took mouthfuls of the tempting food they
were beating out; we thought they well deserved it, and called to mind
the command given to the Jews, `Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that
treadeth out the corn.'
After threshing, we proceeded to winnowing: by simply throwing the
threshed corn with shovels high in the air when the land or sea-breeze
blew strong, the chaff and refuse was carried away by the wind and the
grain fell to the ground.
During these operations our poultry paid the threshing-floor many
visits, testifying a lively interest in the success of our labours, and
gobbling up the grain at such a rate that my wife was obliged to keep
them at a reasonable distance; but I would not have them altogether
stinted in the midst of our plenty. I said, `Let them enjoy themselves;
what we lose in grain, we gain in flesh. I anticipate delicious
chicken-pie, roast goose, and boiled turkey!'
When our harvest stores were housed, we found that we had reaped
sixty, eighty, even a hundred-fold what had been sown. Our garner was
truly filled with all manner of store.
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